MLAs Crossing Fence in UP Ahead of Elections
News & Pics: Faisal Fareed
Daijiworld Media Network - Lucknow
Lucknow, Aug 5: With assembly elections approaching, it is time for shifting loyalties for legislators of Uttar Pradesh. Known for its horse trading phenomenon, state’s six MLAs of Samajwadi Party (SP) crossed fence to ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on the opening day of assembly session on Friday.
The move has far reaching dynamics as it is seen as a reply given by the blue brigade to Mulayam Singh led SP which gave the first blow by poaching three BSP MLAs.
The six SP MLAs who crossed sides during assembly session include Sarvesh Singh Seepu from Sagdi, Azamgarh, Sultan Beg from Kawar, Bareilly, Ashok Kumar Singh Chandel from Hamirpur, Sandeep Aggrawal from Moradabad, Sunderlal Lodhi from Hadha, Unnao and Suraj Singh Shakya from Sahit, Etah.
In a joint statement, the MLAs accused Mulayam for promoting nepotism and being anti-Muslim. They also hailed CM Mayawati as a savior and champion for the downtrodden. However, in a quick response, SP claimed that the MLAs had left their group already and were denied tickets. "There is no new name in the list. All these MLAs were expelled from the party. They were with the BSP and now it is being shown as a big achievement. All were denied tickets for their anti-party activities," said state spokesperson of SP Rajendra Choudhary on Friday.
The poaching game began few days back with the SP taking lead and attracting BSP MLA Fareed Mahfooz Kidwai from Masauli, Barabanki to its side. Few days later, another sitting BSP MLA Sherbahadur from Jalalpur, Ambedkarnagar arrived in BSP camp. On Wednesday another BSP MLA Krishna Kumar from Mallawan, Hardoi was inducted in SP by Akhilesh Yadav.
The developments infuriated the CM Mayawati and she expressed her displeasure with senior party leaders. The BSP leaders developed cold feet and planned to pay back SP in same coin. The first cath was SP MLA Sandhya Katehria who was included in BSP camp by senior minister Naseemuddin Siddiqui on Thursday. A day later another six MLAs were included in BSP.
Among those who had crossed sides many were denied tickets by their parent party. Katheria, Kidwai were not given tickets so they looked for greener pastures. MLAs as Sandeep Aggrawal, Sarvesh Singh Seepu, Ashok Singh Chandel had sided with former SP leader Amar Singh when he was expelled from the party in February 2010. They were not in good books of the party high command. Sultan Beg was facing several criminal charges and was on the run.
Both the sides BSP and SP claimed on Friday that several more MLAs are in line and will be inducted in coming days. "A large chunk of SP MLAs are disillusioned with their party leadership and are in touch with us. They will be included at an opportune time," said BSP’s official spokesperson.
On the other hand, senior SP leader Azam Khan remarked: "Most of the BSP MLAs want to join our party and are sending feelers. We will however admit them on merit and their credibility."
However political analyst term these developments as a routine affair in UP’s politics. In the electin year such incidents occur and now they are not at all a surprise in UP’s politics. The state has even witnessed minority government of BJP led by Rajnath Singh surviving on breakaway factions of several parties.